Tetouan: Under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, and King Mohammed VI of Morocco, the northern Moroccan city of Tetouan celebrated the opening of the sixth edition of the Moroccan Poets Festival. The festival, organised by the Department of Culture in Sharjah in collaboration with Morocco's Ministry of Youth, Culture, and Communication, will run for three days and features the participation of more than 40 Moroccan poets, intellectuals, and artists.
According to Emirates News Agency, the opening ceremony took place at Teatro Espa±ol in the heart of Tetouan, attended by Abdullah bin Mohammed Al Owais, Chairman of the Department of Culture in Sharjah; Mohammed Ibrahim Al Qaseer, Director of Cultural Affairs at the department; Abdelrazzaq Mansouri, Governor of Tetouan; and Zhour Umahouche, Regional Director of Culture, representing Minister of Youth, Culture, and Communication, Mohamed Mehdi Bensad. Also present were a large audience of writers, academics, university students, and poetry enthusiasts.
The event was hosted by Mokhles Essaghir, poet and Director of the House of Poetry in Tetouan, who welcomed the guests and highlighted that the Houses of Poetry have become a cornerstone in the Arab cultural scene thanks to the vision of the Ruler of Sharjah. He emphasised that the festival brings together prominent poetic voices in Morocco and has seen participation from hundreds of poets over the years.
In his remarks, Al Owais underscored poetry's essential role in expressing identity and cultural values. This edition reaffirms the pioneering role of poetry in expressing rich cultural identity and values. The House of Poetry in Tetouan has devoted its efforts to gathering Moroccan poets, both established and emerging, to share their creativity and enrich the country with poetry and art.
Speaking on the activities of the House of Poetry in Tetouan, Al Owais added that Tetouan continues to serve as a beacon of creativity and a meeting point for writers and poets. This annual literary gathering culminates a season filled with poetic readings, critical discussions, and the publication of new poetry collections. This ongoing partnership between Sharjah's Department of Culture and Morocco's Ministry of Youth, Culture, and Communication reflects the strong ties between the UAE and Morocco.
Al Owais also conveyed the greetings and best wishes of His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah to the festival's participants. Representing Minister Bensad, Zhour Umahouche delivered a speech praising the initiative of establishing Houses of Poetry, leading to a shift in the Arab cultural scene. She welcomed attendees to the new edition of the Moroccan Poets Festival, hosted by the House of Poetry in Tetouan.
Quoting Minister Bensad, she highlighted Tetouan's role as a cradle of poetic and cultural modernity in Morocco and the Arab world. The city stands as a capital of Arabic poetry and a beacon of literary modernity, with the House of Poetry playing a leading role in preserving its cultural spirit.
Umahouche noted the festival's diverse lineup of poetry and artistic events, representing various regions and poetic traditions of Morocco. This diversity is rooted in Tetouan's history and cultural identity, shaped by its Amazigh, Arab, and Andalusian heritage.
In line with its tradition, the festival paid tribute to poet Salah El Wadie and literary critic Houria El Khamlichi. Both honourees expressed gratitude to Sharjah and the House of Poetry in Tetouan for the recognition and support for Moroccan and Arab cultural life.
Certificates and commemorative plaques were presented by Al Owais, Al Qaseer, Umahouche, and Mansouri. The opening event featured readings by poets Salah El Wadie, Khadija Al-Masoudi, and Othman Al-Haichou.
The House of Poetry in Tetouan announced the winners of the sixth edition of its Debut Poetry Collection Award for Young Poets - Tetouan. This year's winners were Ali Badoun, Mohamed Al-Fattouh, and Mohamed Aghzait, who received certificates of recognition.
In a new initiative, the House of Poetry in Tetouan launched the Arabic Language Pioneers Contest to nurture young people's expressive skills through poetry recitation, reading, and writing. More than ten young girls won in the inaugural edition, receiving certificates amidst applause.
The event concluded with a musical performance by Moroccan singer Nabila Maan, who presented traditional and popular songs enthusiastically received by the audience.